Jacoby Ellsbury homers, makes Joe Maddon pay as Red Sox beat Rays

Scott Lauber Monday, September 17, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- This time, the opposing manager made the strangest in-game decision.

One night after Bobby Valentine took heat for pinch-hitting for Jose Iglesias midway through an at-bat, Rays manager Joe Maddon called for an intentional walk of Pedro Ciriaco to load the bases for Jacoby Ellsbury with the Red Sox leading by three runs in the seventh inning here tonight. Never mind that Ellsbury already had broken up Rays starter Alex Cobb's bid for a no-hitter with a two-run homer one inning earlier, or that he is batting .309 against left-handed pitchers, or that he simply is a more accomplished hitter than Ciriaco.

Sure enough, Ellsbury delivered an RBI single against Rays lefty reliever J.P. Howell, helping the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory in the opener of a four-game series before an announced crowd of only 11,722 at Tropicana Field.

“(Howell) does a good job of getting lefties out,” Ellsbury said. “Maybe they were hoping for a double-play ball. I was excited to have an opportunity to get up and drive a run in.”

Given the chance to gloat about Maddon's decision, Valentine didn't take the bait.

"I don't think you see a lot of times where they walk (Ciriaco) to get to Ells," Valentine said. "Ells got a big two-out hit there. No, I don't mind him coming up with the bases loaded. That just goes to show you that Ciriaco has gained a little respect around the league, too."

Ellsbury finished with three hits and the Red Sox scored at least five runs for only the second time in nine games. He's batting .400 (12-for-30) with two homers in his last seven games, even though he has only four homers overall since returning in July from a three-month absence because of a partially dislocated right shoulder.

“I know if I get my season’s worth of at-bats, my numbers will be where they need to be," Ellsbury said. "Unfortunately, I can’t get those at-bats back.”

Having been eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, the Sox nevertheless won for the third time in four games on their seven-game road trip and further weakened the Rays' quickly fading playoff chances. Tampa Bay has lost three consecutive games and six of its last seven, falling to 4-1/2 games behind the Orioles for the second AL wild-card berth.

Aaron Cook pitched well for six innings, allowing one run on five hits against the Rays' popgun offense before Rich Hill, Junichi Tazawa and Mark Melancon finished out the game. Cook quietly has pitched well this month, allowing six runs in 18 innings for a 3.00 ERA over his last three starts against the Mariners, Yankees and Rays.